Emma Watson Brushes Off Haircut Inspired Gay Rumors

Emma Watson raised eyebrows and more than a few questions about her sexuality, when she suddenly chopped off her shoulder-length locks following the end of the “Harry Potter” movies. Rumors followed that she is a lesbian. And, now she answers them, sort of.

Watson isn’t the only young Hollywood star to be ambushed by sexual stereotypes. “Twilight” star Taylor Lautner has been the subject of persistent rumors that he’s gay, even after he denied them.

Emma added fuel to the fire when she was photographed trying to plant a playful kiss on a female friend outside a New York nightclub.

The question of Watson’s sexuality came up indirectly during an interview with London newspaper The Independent. Watson was asked about cutting her hair and gave a surprising answer. She raised the issue herself.

“I had journalists asking me if this meant I was coming out, if I was a lesbian now,” she said, “rolling her eyes” according to the newspaper.

“That haircut did make me realize how subjective everyone’s opinion is. Some people were crazy for it and some people just thought I’d lost my shit. All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.”

The implication, clearly, is that she’s not. But she doesn’t elaborate.

Watson isn’t known as a serial dater, but she was spotted with a new boyfriend last month and reportedly dated actor Johnny Simmons, whom she met on the set of “The Perks of Becoming a Wallflower” last summer. The broke up late last year.

Watson has been trying to break away from her Harry Potter image since the decade-long movie series ended, and says fashion has given her the outlet to remake herself.

“Fashion gave me a chance to feel like I was something outside of Potter,” she said. “I’m a multidimensional person and that’s the freedom of fashion: that you’re able to reinvent yourself through how you dress and how you cut your hair or whatever.”

Why do people ultimately assume that because a woman has short hair that she is a lesbian? Secondly, what is so problematic about a star being gay? I mean people treat it as if it is an ailment. Seriously, what is the big deal?